Computer system and method for facilitating and managing the project bid and requisition process

Abstract

A comprehensive, web-enabled computer system and method is provided for facilitating and managing all aspects of project work, while synchronizing communications, data and transaction processing across multiple user platforms. To implement the computer system and method, a bid item list is utilized to create configurable and scalable customized bid templates premised on the specific type of project work required. Bid requests are generated from the customized bid templates for solicitation of vendor bid responses to the selected bid items provided by the bid template. One or more bid items within the vendor bid responses can be selected for vendor grading purposes, and comparison of the vendor bid responses can be conducted using the graded bid item responses. In addition, project tracking parameters can be entered into the computer system for tracking the performance of the project.

1. A project-work risk-management documentation method comprising:
 configuring an electronic temporary-laborer risk-management document library; 
 wherein the step of configuring the temporary-laborer risk-management document library comprises:
 specifying a plurality of temporary-laborer risk-management documentation types, the plurality of documentation types being representative of documents that may need to be executed or provided by a temporary laborer; 
 specifying a plurality of temporary-laborer types such that a temporary laborer is classified into a single one of the plurality of temporary-laborer types; and 
 mapping the plurality of temporary-laborer types to the plurality of temporary-laborer risk-management documentation types to determine, for each temporary-laborer type, which ones of the plurality of document types must be provided or executed by temporary laborers belonging to the temporary-laborer type; 
 
 configuring a plurality of bid templates according to at least one project services type, the plurality of bid templates being usable for creation of buyer bid requests; 
 wherein the configured plurality of bid templates comprise a plurality of pre-specified bid items associated with specific types of information to be solicited from a vendor, the plurality of pre-specified bid items comprising the specified plurality of temporary-laborer types and the plurality of temporary-laborer risk-management documentation types mapped to the specified plurality of temporary-laborer types; 
 responsive to a bid request for a particular project based on a particular bid template in the plurality of bid templates, receiving, from a vendor, a temporary-laborer record corresponding to at least one of the plurality of pre-specified bid items, the temporary-laborer record representing a particular temporary laborer who is to be engaged for the particular project, the particular temporary laborer being of at least one temporary-laborer type from the plurality of temporary-laborer types; 
 wherein receipt of the temporary-laborer record is conditioned on approval by at least one pre-configured approver, the approval being based, at least in part, on a pre-defined appropriate vendor response to at least one bid item of the particular bid template; 
 receiving at least one temporary-laborer document from the particular temporary laborer, the temporary-laborer document corresponding to a documentation type mapped to the at least one temporary-laborer type in the mapping step and included as at least one of the plurality of pre-specified bid items; 
 administering a temporary-laborer agreement from the risk-management document library to the particular temporary laborer, the temporary-laborer agreement being mapped to the temporary-laborer type in the mapping step; and 
 wherein the step of configuring the temporary-laborer risk-management document library, the step of configuring the plurality of bid templates, the providing step, and the administering step are implemented by a computer system. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one pre-configured approver is pre-defined according to user roles and characteristics of the at least one bid item on which approval is based. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of specifying risk-management temporary laborer documentation types comprises: defining bid-template-based temporary-laborer executable agreements; and
 configuring bid-template-based temporary laborer executable agreement content. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of providing the at least one temporary-laborer document comprises providing pre-defined bid-template-based agreement and documentation requirements to a temporary laborer in accordance with the mapping of temporary-laborer types to temporary-laborer documentation types. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 verifying that each of a plurality of documents of the provided pre-defined bid-template-based agreement and documentation requirements has been properly executed; 
 storing data regarding the effective date of each of the plurality of documents; and 
 setting a tickler date for any of the plurality of documents that will need to be renewed in the future. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of administering the temporary-laborer agreement comprises:
 systematically storing and tracking temporary-laborer resource-documentation transactional data; and 
 based on the stored and tracked temporary-laborer resource-documentation transactional data, periodically determining whether temporary-laborer resource-documentation requirements are being met. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the storing and tracking step comprises administering temporary-laborer resource system access and right-to-work permission based on the determining step indicating that a previously provided temporary-laborer document is no longer valid or needs to be renewed. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the project services type comprises at least one of consulting, staff supplementation, and project services; and 
 bid items included within a given bid template of the plurality of bid templates are selected in light of the project services type applicable to the given bid template. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of prespecified bid items comprise at least one mandatory bid item that comprises at least a project-services-type identifier. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein, provided pre-defined approvals are obtained, any bid item may be added to or removed by a buyer soliciting bids using a bid template of the plurality of bid templates. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the project services type is selected by the buyer from a pre-established plurality of project services types. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the project services type is selected from the group consisting of consulting, staff supplementation, and project services. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein each bid template is segmented into a plurality of project sector types, the plurality of project sector types defining a technical or professional discipline of project work to be performed pursuant to the bid template. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein each project sector type is segmented into a plurality of project family types, the plurality of project family types for each project sector type comprising a plurality of the following:
 enterprise-resource solutions; 
 e-business solutions; 
 telecommunications; 
 technical-integration solutions; 
 network-management solutions; 
 custom software development; 
 business-strategy/planning solutions; 
 human-resource solutions; 
 audit/assurance solutions; 
 financial advisory solutions; 
 tax solutions; 
 risk-management solutions; 
 real-estate services; 
 legal services; 
 engineering services; 
 building/construction services; and 
 product development. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of bid items contains displayed default data. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pre-specified bid items are included within a given configured bid template according to project services type, project sector type and project family type. 
     
     
       17. A project-work risk-management documentation method comprising:
 configuring an electronic temporary-laborer risk-management document library; 
 wherein the step of configuring the temporary-laborer risk-management document library comprises:
 specifying a plurality of temporary-laborer risk-management documentation types, the plurality of documentation types being representative of documents that may need to be executed by a temporary laborer; 
 specifying a plurality of temporary-laborer types such that a temporary laborer is classified into a single one of the plurality of temporary-laborer types; and 
 mapping the plurality of temporary-laborer types to the plurality of temporary-laborer risk-management documentation types to determine, for each temporary-laborer type, which ones of the plurality of document types must be executed by temporary laborers belonging to the temporary-laborer type; 
 
 configuring a plurality of bid templates according to at least one project services type, the plurality of bid templates being usable for creation of buyer bid requests; 
 wherein the configured plurality of bid templates comprise a plurality of pre-specified bid items associated with specific types of information to be solicited from a vendor, the plurality of pre-specified bid items comprising the specified plurality of temporary-laborer types and the plurality of temporary-laborer risk-management documentation types mapped to the specified plurality of temporary-laborer types; 
 responsive to a bid request for a particular project based on a particular bid template in the plurality of bid templates, receiving, from a vendor, a temporary-laborer record corresponding to at least one of the plurality of pre-specified bid items, the temporary-laborer record representing a particular temporary laborer who is to be engaged for the particular project, the particular temporary laborer being of at least one temporary-laborer type from the plurality of temporary-laborer types; 
 wherein receipt of the temporary-laborer record is conditioned on approval by at least one pre-configured approver, the approval being based, at least in part, on a pre-defined appropriate vendor response to at least one bid item of the particular bid template; 
 receiving at least one temporary-laborer document from the particular temporary laborer, the temporary-laborer document corresponding to a documentation type mapped to the at least one temporary-laborer type in the mapping step and included as at least one of the plurality of pre-specified bid items; 
 administering a temporary-laborer agreement from the risk-management document library to the particular temporary laborer, the temporary-laborer agreement being mapped to the temporary-laborer type in the mapping step; and 
 wherein the step of configuring the temporary-laborer risk-management document library, the step of configuring the plurality of bid templates, the providing step, and the administering step are implemented by a computer system.